Machine for harvesting and reducing corn or other growth to silage.



v o. MEYER. MACHINE FOR HARVESTING AND REDUCING CORN OR OTHER GROWTH-TO SILAGE.

APPLICATIONFILED JUNE 28. 1913.

Patented May 4, 1915.

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n. MEYER. MACHINE FOB HARVESTING AND REDUCING CORN OR OTHER GROWTH T 0 SILAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28- I913;

TED STATES P i oEEIoE.

DANIEL MEYER, or MORRIS, MINNESOTA.

Application filed June 28, 1913. Serial No.776,401.

"1% all wit-(melt may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morris,

"mechanism at will.

in the county of Stevens and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Imirov'ement in Machines for Harvesting and lteducing (join or Other Growth to Silage, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an'improvement in machines for harvesting and reducing corn and other growth to silage, in which the corn stalks or other growth are conducted into the silage reducing mechanism butt first. improvement is designed to accomplish this result in an efficient and economical manner, whereby a minimum of power is required for operating the machine. The improveadjusting I features standing corn and other growth at any desired height from the ground and under varying conditions both as to the character and-unevenness of the ground and to the character of the growth which is cut. The improvement also provides'improved mechanism for accomp ishing the above results which can be easily attachedto or detached from a vehicle such as a tractor without having to incorporate the mechanism permanently into the vehicle structure. The improvement therefore enables the use of a tractor for general farm utility purposes which may be coupled with my improved :In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a plan 'of my inventionshown attached th a detail of a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction illustrated .in Fig. 1; Fig. 3

is a section taken on the line XX of Fig.

1; Fig. 4 is a detail looking at the forward end of the conveyer trough illustrating the means by which said forward end may be adjusted in height on the supportingframe;

- Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic view partly in section illustrating by diagram the manner in which the corn stalks are cut and tipped over into the trough on the conveyer with their butts first toward the silage cut- ,;ter, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in elevation the transverse conveyers or carriers for conducting the silage away from the silage reducing mechanism. In the following description and claims, where I use the term corn it is intended that Specification of Letters Patent.

This particular.

MACHINE FOR HARVESTING AND REDUCING CORN on OTHER GROWTH '10 SILAGE.

Patented May 4, 1915.

it be construed as including any vegetable growthm-adapted to make silage asits full equivalent. I

This invention is adapted to be detachably mounted upon a vehicle either of the self propelled type such as a tractor or one drawn by horses, although it will be obvious that the essential elements of the broad idea involved may be easily constructed as an integral part of either of these types of vehicles. For illustration A indicates in the drawings a detail of a vehicle of either of the types mentioned, uponthe forward end of the body frame B of which is detachably mounted by the bolts 2, a pair of channel members 3 disposed on either side of said body frame. Each of these channel members has attached thereto by means of the pivot bolt 4, a hinged supporting member 5. Through each of these supporting memsaid supporting member and channel member being provided with dependingstop lugs 7 and 8 whichlimit the downward swinging movement of the supporting member when the screw which it carries stands in vertical pdsition. The supporting members are free to swing upward with their stop lugs 7 and 8 separated for the purposes to be hereinafter described. The screws 6 carry a forwardly extending frame C, having sides 9 and 10 formed by upper and lower bars 11 and 12 which are joined by vertical cross pieces 13. The rear end of the upper and lower bars 11 and 12 on each side are freely swiveled to the screws 6 whereby said frame C is suported and the screws are free to be turned 1n the supports 5 to vary the elevation of the frame C above the ground. To operate the screws a handle 14 is mounted on one member to turn-it and the motion thus imparted is communicated to the other member simultaneously by means of the chain belt 15 passing over the sprockets 16 and 17 mounted upon said screws. The two sides 9 and 10 of the frame C are connected by means of transverse beams 18 and a platform 19 is mounted upon the top of said of the stalks first into the silage reducing mechanism and the carrier by which the 55 arms 38 which extend upwardl stantially horizontal plane. Immediately'ad' jacent said cutter and extending forwardly and outwardly is a mold board 25 whichds mounted upon an extension 26 of the frame C and is adapted to form a side ofa throat into which the corn stalks are gathered and brought into contact with the disk cutter as the machine advances. Immediately adjacent the disk cutter and extending forwardly on the frame C in extension thereof and placed oppositethe mold board is a longitudinal trough D which forms the opposite side of the throat into which the corn stalks are gathered in advance of cutting. This trough has a horizontal floor 30 connected to the sides 28 and 29 around which a conveyer belt 27 is adapted to travel with its upper-lap moving backward toward the silage reducing mechanism E, and at one side of the disk cutter. The side 28 adjacent the disk cutter edge of the conveyer belt is low and the side 29 at the opposite edge of the conveyer belt is'high, and said sides are adapted. to act as guards for the corn stalk. The conveyer belt or trough frame 30, has its rear end pivoted upon the shaft 31 which is ournaled inthe frame C and its forwardend-supported in adjusted elevation by the lever arm 32, the operating endof 'which is mounted upon a shaft 33 journalcd upon an extension portion 37 of the frame G and the free end provided with antifriction rollers 34 which are adapted to run in a longitudinal guide channel 35, said channel being secured to the lower portion of the conveyer frame 30. By turning the shaft 33 through the use of an arm 36 the lever 32 may be tilted to vary the height at which the forward end of the longitudinal conveyer is supported upon the frame C.

Immediately adjacent the mold board 25 is a mold frame composed of a plurality of from the lower and forward portion 0 the mold board and rearwardly above 'and'back of the disk cutter Where their ends are secured to a portion of the frame C, said arms being curved in suitable lines whereby as the machine advances the corn stalks are gradually tilted from upright position with their upper ends down over the low side28 of the eonveyer D causing their butt ends when 1,1es,soe

cut to tilt up and onto the conveyer belt, their butt ends being carried rearwardly by said belt in advance into the silage reducing mechanism E, the upper lap of said belt being caused to travel in the direction of the arrows indicated in Fi 1. The forward extensions 26 and 37 o the frame C are supported upon carrier wheels 40 which are adapted to roll over the round and are mounted in supports 41, which in turn are swiveled upon supporting plates 42. These supporting plates are sccuredto the sides of the extensions by means of bolts 43 passing'through slots into the frames whereby said plates may be selectively positioned in height on the frames to vary the height at which the forward portion of the frame G is adapted to be carried, the stop lugs 7 and 8 assisting in limiting the lowermost position at which the forward ends of said frame are permitted to travel. This limitation of movement of the forward end of the frame 6 prevents the apparatus from catching in the ground in case it runs over an abrupt depression which otherwise would wreck the machine.

The means for tilting the arm 36 and thus raising or lowering the forward end of the conveyor trough consists of a rod 45 con nected by one end to the free end of the arm 36 and by its other end to one end of the tilting lever 46, said lever being pivoted at 47, between its ends on the frame G and slidably connected by its other end to the ,operating end of a hand lever 48, the latter being pivoted between its ends at 49 on the frame C and provided with lock bolt 50 which cooperates with a quadrant 51 to hold the lever 48 in adjusted position. Thus by tilting the lever 48 the forward end of the trough may be adjusted in height above the ground to catch the corn stalks. This adjustment in height enables the conveyer to catch the corn stalks whether short or long.

The means for operating the conveyer belt I 27 in the trough consists of rollers or pulleys 55 and 56, the former being freely journaled in the trough frame 30 and the latter securely mounted upon the shaft 31 which is journaled upon the frame G and revolubly connected to a drive shaft 57, the latter being also journaled upon the frame C. The

means of connection between said shafts consists of sprockets 58 and 59 and a sprocket chain 60. The drive shaft 57 is adapted to be revolved by a main shaft 61 journaled upon stands 62 which are mounted upon the channelmembers 3 by means of the bolts 1 63, the mode of connecting said shafts 57 and '61 being by means of pulleys 64 and 65 and a belt 66, said pulley 64 being mounted upon the shaft 57 and the pulley 65 carried by the driven member 67 of a clutch'68, said clutch having its shiftable driving member 69 mounted upon and carried by the shaft .61. The drive shaft 61 is adapted to be revolubly connected with any suitable source of power such as 'the prime mover carried by the self propelled vehicle not shown, on which the invention is detachably mounted, a pulley being illustrated mounted upon the shaft 61 around which a drive belt extending from said prime mover may be passed. The shaft 57 may be thrown into or out of operation by shifting the drive member 69 of the clutch 08 through the use of operating levers and connecting arms71, 72, 43 and 74, the arm'74 being provided with a lock bolt 75, which is adapted to cooperate with the quadrant 76 to hold the .lever arm 74 and its connected drive member of the clutch 111.01 out of connection-withthe driven member of said clutch.

The disk cutter shaft 22 of the corn harvesting mechanism is revolubly connected with the drive shaft 57 by means of the counter shaft 80, which is journaled in the frame C of the machine and pairsof intermeshing bevel gears 81 and 82 and 83 and 84, the proportions of said gears being such as to revolve the disk cutter at suitable speed according to the speed of operation of the'drive shaft 57. The silage cutting mechanism consists of a cylindrical cutter 85 mountedupon a shaft 86 which is suitably journaled in the frame C and carries a fly wheel 87. The blades of the cutter cooperate with a stationary blade 88 t0 cut the corn stalks and a suitable'hoppe'r 89 is constructed around the cylinder and stationary cutter whichassists in directing the corn stalks into engagement with .the cutting mechanism. Immediately in front of the cutting mechanism described are two c0- operating feed rollers 90 and 91, these rollers being of ordinary construction and adapted to spread-apart under spring tension to suitably engage and feed the corn stalks into the cutting mechanism. These feed rollers are suitably journaled in the frame C, the roller 90 being idle and the roller 91 being driven as will be hereinafter described.

The feed rollers are positioned immediately adjacent the delivery end of-the carrier .belt or apron 27 and between said belt. and

silage cutting mechanism The cutting cylinder 85 is revolved at suitable speed by means of the gear 93 mounted upon the shaft 57 and the pinion 94 mounted upon the cylinder shaft 86. The feed roller 91 is revolved at suitable speed by sprockets 96 and 97, respectively mounted upon the shaft carrying the feed roller 91and the drive shaft 57, and by means of the chain 98 passing around said s rockets.

For the purpose of de ivering the silage at one side of the apparatus a pair of conveyer belts oraprons 100 and 101 are provided, the former being placed below the cutting mechanism E andadapted to catch elevating belt 101 is carried by rollers 106 and 107 journaled in a carrier frame 108, which is pivoted on the shaft 109, carrying the pulley 106 in the frame C whereby the carrier 101 in its frame may be adjusted in height on its outer end. Power is communicated to the elevatin belt 101, by means of the belt 110 passing around the pulleys 102 and 106. The outer free end of the elevating carrier frame is supported in adjusted elevation by means of cables 111, passing around hand operated winches 112 of usual construction, said'winches being adapted to be operated by the hand lever 113, and locked in stationary adjusted position by a dog and ratchet wheel of the usual type 114 (see Fig. 2). The operating levers 48, 7 land 113 are conveniently located within easy reach of the operator on the seat 20.

In use my improved apparatus may be easily and quickly attached to a vehicle by inserting the bolts 2 through the channel supports 3 or after the channel supports have been attached by inserting the bolts 4 through the channel members and the supports 5. The various adjustments described may then be made to facilitate the operation of the machine according to the height at which the corn is to be cut and the condition of the ground over which the machine is to be used. As the machine advances that portion of the structure between the forwardly extending trough and the mold board is directed in line with a row of standing corn. The corn thus engaged by the mold frame as the machine advances is cut by the disk. cutter and the stalks of cut corn are turned over by the mold frame and laid down into the trough on the conveyer belt with the butt ends in position toadvance into the silage cutting mechanism between the feed rollers. The lateral guards or sides 28 and 29 suffice to prevent the corn from rolling off of the conveyer and hold the is reduced to silage, the silage is caught by the conveyer 100, and deposited upon the elevator 101 which in turn is adapted to deliver it from the machine into any vehicle or upon the ground as desired.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the apparatus 1 which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carriedout by other meansand applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of "the following claims.

Having described my invention, what 12 claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent'is:--

1. A machine of the character set forth, comprising, in combination, a vehicle, a

frame detachably mounted upon said vehicle- 1n extension thereof, a longitudinal trough 1 and stalk and silage cutters, for the purposes specified 5;. A machine of the class set forth, com prislng, in combination with a vehicle body,

- a supporting frame hinged upon said body frame and to swing up, means for adjusting the height at which said frame is supported above the ground, carrying wheel elements adapted to support the outer free end of said frame on the ground, a corn harvesting cutter journaled on said frame, a silage reducing cutter on said frame, means for turning the cut corn from standing into substantially hori-' zontal position with their butt ends facing said silage reducing cutter, and means for conducting said corn while in horizontal position butt first into engagement with said silage reducing cutter. v

3. -A'machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination with a vehicle body, a supporting frame hinged upon said body to swing up), stops interposed between said ody adapted to limit the downward swinging movement of said frame, means for adjusting the height at which said frame is supported above the ground, carrying wheel elements adapted to support the outer free end ofsaid frame on the ground, a corn harvesting cutter jdurnaled on said frame, a silage reducing cutter on said frame, means for turning the cut corn from standing into substantially horizontal position with their butt, ends facing said silage reducing cutter, and means for conducting said corn while in horizontal posimesses prising, in combination with a vehicle body, I a supporting frame hinged upon said body 3 'to swing up, carrying elementsselectively positioned to vary the height at which the forward free end of said frame is adapted to be supported on the ground, a corn cutter carried by said frame adapted to harvest standing corn, a silage cutter back of said corn cutter and a substantially horizontal conveyer extending forward on said frame at one side of sald corn cutter and backward p to said silage cutter, said conveyer being hinged upon said frame to swing up, means for adjustably supporting the free end of said conveyer to vary its height on said frame, and a mold frame coacting with'said corn cutter and conveyer to tip the standing corn as cut into horizontal position on said conveyer with the butt ends of the corn stalks in position to advance toward said silage cutter.

5. A machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a supporting frame,

a harvesting cutter journaled in said frame,

a silage cutter also journaled' in said frame, a longitudinal conveyer framepivoted on said supporting frame having its forward end adapted to swing up, said conveyer frame being disposed at one side of said corn cutter and extending rearwardly to said silage cutter, means for adjustably supporting the free end of said conveyer frame on said supporting frame, a horizontal conveyer belt in the bottom of said trough, a mold frame adapted to tilt standing corn as out over into horizontal position on said belt with the butt ends of the corn stalks facing said silage cutter, guards at the sides of said trough, a transverse conveyer below said silage cutter adapted to deliver the silage away from said machine and means for actuating said corn and silage cutters and 0011- veyers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL MEYER. Witnesses:

S. A; Smears,

R. S. CLARK. 

